Republican legislators would kill their grandmothers to protect Paris Hilton’s tax break, but continue to thumb their noses at the middle class. It’s about time voters took notice.

The GOP has proved countless times they are only concerned about the wealthy in this country and their tax cuts!!

VOTE EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN OUT NEXT YEAR. They work for the 1% they
don’t work for the majority of Americans. VOTE THEM ALL OUT.

Actually, Ron Christie took on both Matthews and David Corn on Hardball the other day about this very subject.

Obama’s got it all wrong. The tax break is a terrible idea now because it’s his idea. That’s why he needs to fully swing to a GOP-base-approved platform ahead of 2012 so the Republicans will abandon everything they’ve ever fought for and go hard left. They are a wise and principled party. 

Yes and the Democrats & this President don’t work for the 1%. Boy you people are just clueless clowns.

You’re right. The Dems are pretty corrupt as well. The difference, though, is that the Democrats will occasionally throw the 99 percent a bone in terms of legislation and regulations, whereas the Republicans won’t. Most of the Republicans are pure crony capitalists and they only serve big business and Wall Street, which–coincidentally–don’t really care if their success hurts most Americans. 

So, why is it that Democrats voted this very tax cut down? Does Obama know?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/payroll-tax-break-extension-proposals-from-both-parties-fail-in-senate/2011/12/01/gIQA7POoIO_story.html

Why did the Democrats vote down the payroll tax cut?

Why did Senate Democrats vote down an extension of the payroll tax cut?

Why is it that Colby can’t at least articulate the fact that Republicans wish to pay for the extension with specific cuts that the president has supported in the past?

It’s simple Mr. President.  If you’re for it, they are against it.  If it helps the economy while you are President, they are against it.  They are rich and can ride out the storm and don’t give two shits how many average middle class Americans drown.

What?? Republicans voted it down because it had tax increases on the rich!!

Republicans want it paid for (unlike the Bush tax cuts) without taxing the wealthy in this country!!

Lol!! Classic!!  =)

Not sure they did that, but if they did, it had to be due to Republicans wanting it paid for by anyone other than the rich in this country!!

Also, how’s your depression now that Herb has left the Presidential race?? Lol!!

Plus, while your were gone… your buddy Stonepark3 was banned!! =)

Perhaps, you don’t understand, Whopper, this site reports on the media reporting the news and not the news itself?

75-85% of this country support higher taxes on the wealthy, why can’t you support it??

So, that would qualify for a report on Mediaite despite Christie’s appalling lack of credibility. Actually, he is far more credible that O’Van Karlsen, Il Douchey, That Guy With the Black, Curly Hair, Bill-o, O’Hannity, O’Van Susteren and Gutmann. So, no condition at all on Christie. Good catch, Whopper.

Answer your own question, Paulie. You know exactly why? Just how “pure” was this condition? Was it tied to something. Maybe some ill-conceived draconian cuts that would throw the economy into a W and Big D*ck style tailspin. A bit of honesty here, Paulie. For a change.

A very good, true and troubling answer …. Perhaps, Paulie will have a question for you.

Somebody ought to tell those corrupt corporate pigs that have been writing those checks to barry that he doesn’t like them.  LMAO!

Are you talking about Democrats voting against the Republican proposal?  Because the Republican proposal, in exchange for the payroll tax cut, called for laying off 10% of the federal workforce (that’s 200,000 workers now without a job, which Republicans would of course then blame on Obama once the unemployment rate increases

In addition, the Republican proposal called for a freeze on the salaries of federal employees — middle class workers who’s salaries have already been frozen.  And then they also threw in some means testing of Medicare and other benefits that both parties can agree upon.  But laying off 200,000 workers in this economy is insane.Now, if you are talking about Democrats who voted against the Democratic version of the bill, there may have been 1 or 2, like there always is in the Democratic party.Plus, I think it’s worth noting that more Republicans voted AGAINST the Republican version of the bill.  Not only did they vote against a tax cut for 160 million working Americans, they also voted against shrinking the size of Government to actually pay for it.

Democrats don’t want to lay off 200,000 federal employees to pay for the tax cut.

Well, you’ve certainly ignored those pols who are concerned about relying on the idea of future congressional appropriations for the money it takes from Social Security.

Do you read the articles you link? The vote was 51 to 49, with Dems supporting it. WaPo points out that, yes, some Dems voted against it but simple math will tell you that the number was just a few. I don’t think you can say the Dems voted down a measure when all but a few of them supported it? 

If you’re referring to the 78 to 20 vote, then yes the Dems voted down a bill (as did a lot of Republicans) that was intended to shrink the federal government by laying off large numbers of federal employees. That was some GOPers trying to force another issue onto the payroll tax cut debate. The vote was against that, not the payroll tax cut itself. 

But thanks for clearing this up, Pablo. Your article really showed how big of a**holes GOP lawmakers are this congress.

That’s pretty funny coming from a sock puppet wielding, former anti-war nut that was against everything Bush.

Obama shill, perhaps?

Actually, the site just excerpted the president’s speech.

THAT is news.

And there’s a political viability behind spending cuts that ‘s as clear as the one behind tax raises on the wealthy.

200,000 employees that don’t do jack shit?

Mediaite is the site for news, information and
smart opinions about print, online and broadcast media, offering
original and immediate assessments of the latest news as it breaks.

Dumb ass troll.

The Democrats are pussies and I’ll let them defend their actions. But that doesn’t in any way excuse Republican intransigence. The fact that they’re fighting tooth and nail to protect the tax breaks of those who’ve benefited disproportionately the last 30 years — and can most afford to relinquish a tiny fraction of their good fortune — is indefensible. (Except, apparently, to the hardcore righties who thought that 9-9-9 was The Second Coming.)

As I said, the Dems are corrupt. Yes, they take money from Wall Street. But if you want to look at the hard numbers and see which party takes more money from Wall Street, the Republicans do, both now and historically. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703461504576231121265117538.html

Ah, the stench of bigotry flows from your ill-advised posts.

From your article:

”
The Senate late Thursday rejected competing partisan visions for extending a temporary tax break that benefits virtually every American worker, clearing the way for more serious negotiations over how to cover the cost of the tax cut.
All but a handful of Democrats voted in favor of their party’s proposal, but in a surprising turn, more Republicans voted against the GOP plan than in favor of it.”

Who voted this down?

I didn’t know you were a sock puppet. Are you also a troll and an Olbyloon?

Because GOP wanted to take away 200,000 federal jobs.  Give in one hand and take in the other.

I would agree!! Both Parties should keep their hands off it!!

 Actually, the “draconian cuts” were those that the president has formerly voiced past support for during the Simpson-Bowles Fiscal Commission wrangling.

It’s too bad the President and his minions in the corrupt, liberal media aren’t capable of telling the truth.  And they wonder why no one has use for them anymore. 

You are totally correct and have proved Pablo was just trying to spin it in his favor!!

Well, it’s not Fox and Friends does Rudolph but it might have prevented a discussion based upon nothing but the most simplistic of  subjective partisan mudslinging.

Ooh, that’s some good old fashioned class warfare going on there! How long have you wanted to take away from them because you “don’t do jack shit”? Typical “conservative” scum bag. “I gots mine. EFF you!”

Oh I agree, they both are out to line their pockets.  It’s just wrapped in a different package.
Historically?
From your link:

Democrats received the biggest share of donations from hedge-fund managers for most of the past two decades. From 1990 through 2008, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, fund managers and their employees contributed about $40 million to candidates for Congress and the presidency. About two-thirds went to Democrats.”

It’s apparent you have no clue what the word “assessment” means!! Lol!!

Yes you did, yes and yes.

Government waste and efficiency is a problem, but this GOP notion that government workers do nothing is ridiculous. First, most government agencies are mere stepping stones to private industry jobs. People often work there for a few years for average D.C. incomes to get experience to land cushy private sector jobs where they really don’t have to do much for raking in 200+K. They want experience, so they work for it. They work less hours than many in the private industry because that’s what’s given to them, but they also get paid much less. 

Secondly, this idea that the private sector is uber efficient is wrong. Many companies are fraught with waste, and are bloated and filled by lazy people (mid-tier or upper management in many cases) who earn a lot for nothing. In some cases, these businesses close or get acquired but sometimes they are as inefficient as bureaucracies for years.  It’s a popular far right misconception that the private sector is perfect and the public sector maximally inefficient. 

What’s the media angle in this piece, Kook?

Hint: there isn’t one.

There’s no spin in my comment. It is a simple statement of fact, along with a source for the fact cited.

Reading is fundamental. Comprehension is priceless.

By putting a higher tax burden on the “upper” class, you will in the long run hurt the jobs that have just been created or will be created in the future.  If the bigger companies cannot afford to keep or open that new job, then the person that would have or is filling the job is SOL and then they have to go on or continue claiming unemployment instead of having gainful employment.  When the corporations are able to expand, jobs are created.  We do have to get out of this debt somehow and more tax cuts are not going to pay the countries bills.

So a bloated federal government is more important to Democrats than than a payroll tax break. Why didn’t Obama tell us that? Why didn’t he tell us that Democrats made that choice?

You conveniently left out Democrats didn’t want 200k jobs lost!!

Though, Republicans would have handed them their pink-slip right before Christmas!!

Find the roll call and count the no votes by party affiliation.

The Republican bill cut benefits for the wealthy, and also cut the deficit.

Cutting the deficit is a good thing, isn’t it?

There were two competing bills, both voted down.

“Liberal media”

*Drink!*

It’s way too late for that. That’s like closing the barn door after the horse escaped, lived a long life and died.

I was gone? Where did I go?

 Well!!  Then!!  It’s not!!  So simple!!

Yes, there’s another one of Obama’s ideas that is now terrible because it was his idea.

6penguin0, I’m referring to the history of the GOP party in general. Yes the Democrats have taken tons of Wall Street money. But the GOP has been, for at least 100 years, the party of big business, including Wall Street. That’s not an opinion. That’s an historical fact. The Democrats have sided with labor unions and law firms. All of the above special interest groups have their share of problems, but it’s an undeniable fact that the GOP has been most often in bed with Wall Street. I’ll send a link if I have time but you could also check out Google Scholar to read some academic research on this. 

Well, I would imagine the Dems voted down the GOP bill and vice-versa!!

Why was he banned? Because of the constant homophobic slurs or the occasional racism? 

Because some of those people who have a million dollars aren’t Bill Gates!!

How much do you want to burden them??   You want to repeal the Bush tax cuts and raise their rates!!  You want to add the cost of Obamacare!!   And now a 3.25% increase!! 

Does it ever occur to you that there are politicians in your own party who won’t go along with this??!!

I would say you had to be in therapy because of how broken hearted you were that Herb left the Presidential race!!

Plus, your avatar is now out-dated!!

Both!! Plus, him calling other people here pedophiles!!

Duh! Our President was addressing the White House Press Corps, Paulie.

The middle-class creates jobs through their consumption of products and services!!

Corporations have record profits but aren’t creating jobs in this country!! Though, in other countries, they create millions of jobs!!

Actually what you derisively refer to as Obamacare provides generous tax credits to small business employers who provide health insurance to their employees. Perhaps, you didn’t know this. I am sure if you had, you would have shared this with us.

 http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220809,00.html

Jacob, it’s interesting to see where money is coming from isn’t it? And why. Your link mentioned Obama “clamping down” on hedge funds, but they didn’t care because their fund profits didn’t qualify, but it sure looked good. They turned on him due to reaching into their pockets.
My former Congressman, died last year was a Dem that was quite popular with big business. 
People need to look beyond campaign slogans.

Why should you, I, or anyone else care if millionaires have to payer higher taxes??

Maybe you would prefer they paid no taxes, while you complain the deficit is too high??

So is honesty. Seem to be some cracks in your foundation.

Perhaps, a strong economy is more important, Dingbat? Perhaps, you enjoyed the W and Big D*ck economic free fall?

 Hey another angry comment from Michelle!!!!

DRINK

We appreciate your not contributing to a substantive discussion once again, Michelle-in-Utah. 

Well, you’re talking to someone who will relentlessly try and game things.

Of COURSE he’ll ignore the fact that Colby Hall and company ARE parot of the media and ARE reporting on political matters, so analysis of THAT dynamic here at Mediaite utterly fits within the focus of this site.

I’m sure many others will get banned. I hope so.

Liberals are typing some crude comments.

Yet, neither you nor any of the knuckle-dragging grunters offering this argument ever provide any support it. You are making assumptions without any foundation. Many American companies are now doing very, very well indeed, but the job growth, although improving, remains tepid. This argument is beginning to stink as much as the possum carcass two (2) blocks down.

Yeah like saying liberals are butt hurt! Now who said that sweetums?

Don’t bother answering you’ve already be exposed as a gigantic hypocrite. 

Corporations are hoarding cash to make OBAMO look bad, and then in late 2012 they will cheerily ask, ‘Who’s got the pitchforks NOW?’ OBAMO speaks of ‘millionaires & billionaires’ as these fuzzy, nebulous ‘people out there.’ He should name them! George Soros! Jeffy Immelt! AlGore! John Kerry (the haughty, French-looking man who probably got rich through insider trading and wants to dodge taxes while wagging his finger at everyone else).

To save time and energy, why don’t you just post numbers from now on. We all know EXACTLY what you’re going to say, so just post a number instead of your usual rant and we’ll all understand what you’re saying and respond accordingly.

This can be #12.

Imagine what the country would be like if we did not have a sarcastic, demagoguing smart alec for a leader. One who did not divide and criticize and demonize, but encouraged and cheered his fellow citizens.

This country could soar once again, like that flimsy glider flew over 100 years ago. That was and is America, an 800 foot, minute long leap into glory, that cold windy day at Kitty Hawk.

Michelle-in-Utah *DRINKS!* rather heavily for a Mormon. 

An excellent suggestion, except for the fact she is paid by the word.

It was a speech, Kook. Where’s the analysis of the corps’ reactions? Where’s the commentary on their reporting? It’s. Not. There.

You suck at this.

Until they learn to handle our fiscal affairs responsibly, they shouldn’t get any more money to blow.

I left out a lot of things that are in the article I linked, and there was nothing convenient about it. My comment was predicated on the fact that Obama left out, conveniently.

Are you suggesting that the government crashed the economy, Kook? And that government will fix it if we just send them more money?

I would too! That’s why I wonder why Obama didn’t mention it.

Read the first sentence of the article, genius. 

Oh, no Mark, I was intentionally trying to obscure the fact that under Obamacare the govt would make businesses pay more in payroll taxes if they don’t provide a certain standard of health care coverage to employees and will give tax credits on 50 percent of those business that do.

Either way, the point stands.

6pengiun, yeah “follow the money” is always a good way to go. I agree that most of the political debate in this country is geared to spotlight things that have nothing to do with the real levers of power. Everything is dumbed-down and turned into a slogan. The media has been pretty bad in showing what’s actually important and has only gotten worse with the rise of the Fox, MSNBC and CNN–all entertainment networks. 

Pablo, your response to TRRE doesn’t make sense. He pointed out that the Democrats think it’s a good idea not to kill a lot of federal jobs while the economy is still recovering, especially when there are clearly other ways to pay for a payroll tax cut extension, and your response is to suggest the Dems want the federal government to be given more money. 

As far as suggesting the gov crashed the economy, you guys are always talking about the Obama economy as if he caused the recession, which started in 2007 and ended in 2009, after job growth started. You can’t have it both ways. Either the 2008 crash Bush oversaw (and knew was coming as early as 2005, when the FBI issued press releases warning about widespread mortgage fraud in a market bubble) was partly the government’s fault or Obama can’t be even partially blamed for the weak economy today. 

Oh no cause it must be so hard to live off a few million! We feel so sorry for you.

It’s too bad Pablo when people present you with facts in response to your frequent postings you neither read them nor do you comprehend them.

“How could it be that the only time there’s a catch is when it comes to raising taxes on middle class families?”

Gees, Barry, you libs always want it both ways- when the bush tax cuts were to expire last year, liberals said that letting them expire  was NOT a tax increase. It was just “getting the tax rates back to where they were supposed to be.”

Suddenly now, when it is YOUR tax cut, it is a tax increase  not “just getting the tax rates back to where they were supposed to be.”

ExGopman hates facts. Please don’t upset him so.

Pablo is Herman Cain. Only Cain can like himself that much.

Michelle is going to say Stonepark3 getting kicked out is evidence of the “liberal media”. sarainitaly is going to wail and Pablo’s gonna say something that makes him feel like patting himself on the back.

I read these boards as a guy born in Chicago, raised in St. Louis, educated on the East Coast and living happily in San Diego. I read these posts and think GOD, WHY ARE AMERICANS HEADING TOWARDS BEING THE DUMBEST GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE ENTIRE EARTH? There is NOTHING to argue here. The GOP’s greatest figure head EVER when pressed with an economic recession stated with all his earnest that A WAITRESS SHOULD NEVER PAY MORE IN TAXES PROPORTIONATELY WHEN COMPARED TO A MILLIONAIRE. He was accused of “class warfare”, did what he had to do for THIS COUNTRY, and moved on to other things. Several democratic presidents have done the same. ONE GOP president, born to his post on the eve of the death of the OLD GOP and the rise of the new reality show based GOP, is by far a group of some of the dumbest, yet most loyal -to their demise- group of idiots that I have EVER seen. I’ve written debates with them and they enter the realm of name calling so quickly -generally what kids do when they dont have an answer- that I realize its impossible to discuss anything based in reality. BEFORE any idiot from the NEW GOP says anything, explain THIS: Cain see’s his poll numbers drop due to his fights with claims of infidelity. The NEW GOP immediatly supports a man who has certified infidelities AND two wives to add to his “family values”. ITS 100% insane. ONLY an idiot making less than 250k a year would argue about any moves to DROP the BUSH TAX CUTS -made for the very wealthy group of people spinning the world- are in the same REALM as preserving tax breaks for the vanishing middle class. ANY argument against this is essentially an indication that you simply do not like OBAMA, and that is fine.. But most of the GOP liked CAIN???? its enough to make you lose your MIND! 

Anyone besides extreme liberals (inc media) taking this argument seriously?   Since when are Democrats interested in lowering taxes?  Since when are Republicans against lowering taxes?   This administration tries to treat their media lapdogs and the american public as if they are imbeciles.

The Gloves Donahue Family is always living in the past!

A past with no deodorant.

The President is very nice. I wish he would come to one of the soirees my partner and I put on.

It’s his child army of Obama-bots that are calling the shots these days anyway. They rule the night, having drunk the blood of our GOP heroes and again offered up their souls to Satan under a full moon. That’s a story the liberal media would just try to paint as crazy–all the more proof that it’s true. 

Obama is just throwing the baby out with the bath water.  Because rich people got the big big tax breaks, how come us poor folk don’t get the big tax break?  Kind of like Barney Frank’s idea that yuppies were buying homes they could not afford during the housing bubble, so poor people ought to be able to do so as well.  It’s all about maintaining power.  The only question I have is whether he is trying to wreck the economy on purpose.

Sounds about right!! =)

Oh, I know a few millionaires in various industries who are writing checks out of their personal accounts in order to keep their businesses alive and their employees employed.

It’s time you started living in the real world.

This makes sense only if you are a millionaire. Fair enough then.

Just to clarify, the Republicans I assume (wars, tax cuts, etc.) ?

Yes – bystandar Barak was “calm”

I love it how the media just plays his tune for him day in and day out.

bwahahahaha

Really, mediaite,. you have to be more subtle than this….you can’t expect to be taken seriously when you so blantantly sing his sone for him.

Wow… seven whole comments in which you mention a partner and no homophobic insults toward you.

I’m sure that you’re thrilled to have your faith restored in your fellow man…

no, it is not funny

Reality is a bitch! 

never mind 
‘trickle-down’ doesn’t work locally in a global economy, nonetheless for
the theoretical ’trickle-down’ to actually be effective, something has to ‘trickle’ down

Yes you have all my sympathies. Poor millionaire lady. You must know all about suffering.

Well, it was a “press conference”.

The president told them how to frame it up and well.. Colby  did….

How would you liberals know that?

Carver, I’m not a millionaire and never claimed to be.

In your case a truck load of self-pity would be perfectly understandable and more than appropriate.

Like sands through the hourglass.
So are the days of out lives.

All of them.

The same democrats who took impeachment off the table and other stuff, both parties are totally corrupt and another reason why i’m a libertarian.

Both parties have sold you out.

Your post “So, why is it that Democrats voted this very tax cut down? Does Obama know?” and you linked the article that states “All but a handful of Democrats voted in favor of their party’s proposal, but in a surprising turn, more Republicans voted against the GOP plan than in favor of it.” as proof.  So again, who voted this down?

Obama is still the president?  I thought he moved to Hawaii or something.

Sorry too whiny for me.. i stopped at 3:33. This kind of tone and demeanor is better suited for your Axelrod or Gibbs but it’s not presidential at all

This will come back to haunt the GOP: “Four more years! Four more years!”

Watching Obama give a speech is like watching someone at a tennis match.  Obama’s been giving this hate the rich speech for 3 months now, you’d think he would have it memorized by now.

LMAO

“TMP”

It’s not the tax break, its the strings he wrapped it in. Why don’t you guys get this? It is, was, and continues to be a set up job meant to ambush the opposition, as is every one of this President’s snake like maneuvers.

That was a rather weak attack. Maybe you were projecting a tad.

Likewise.

Apparently you guys will drink at the drop of a hat… I just dropped a hat.

The queen of the roller derby has bestowed her wisdom upon the lowly once again. Thanks for that scintillating contribution to the dialog.

In answer to your question, yes he can! – and yes he is.

200,000 jobs we can do without and not notice the difference because the Federal government is much too fat to begin with.

Start the cutting at the top – trickle down in action in 2012!

Looks to me like these guys miss Stonepark3, they are near immortalizing him by continual references to a banned person.

He is not gone, he is living in their heads rent free.

Thus proclaimed the queen of the roller derby -  all kneel and pay homage to her royal highness!

Once again appropriate to post and once again thanks to Pete X.

Reich-wing rule number one: Everything that President Obama says/does is bad.Rule number two: If President Obama says/does something good? See rule number one.Rule number three: If President Obama agrees with a Reichwhiner? Said Reichwhiner must immediately reverse his/her position.Rule number four: President Obama hasn’t accomplished anything in office but everything is his fault.